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Daichi did not care for the matters between brothers Asura and Indra. No, the man was content to live alongside nature away from all that ninshu nonsense. He had seen the feats those who wielded the magic performed and it left him feeling uneasy. He had been teased and called jealous but he paid no mind. He had two fists and that was good enough. He didn’t need fancy, unnatural magic to get by.
As time went on it became impossible to stay out of the conflict between Osutsuki brothers.
Daichi had sided with Asura, the more likable of the brothers. He didn’t care for the ninshu but he could appreciate Asura’s use of it. He used it to heal and help his fellow man, while his older brother didn’t seem to care for others much.
He’s surprised to see so many surrounding the icy Indra, but he supposed if others shared the same ideals then it wouldn’t be hard. They weren’t the elder brother’s friends, like Asura’s people were his friends. No, the people surrounding Indra were followers.
While on the battlefield, one follower caught Daichi’s eye, a woman. Her green eyes were green as fresh spring leaves, but behind them burned anger the likes of which he never felt before. The fierce woman fought and didn’t particularly rely on ninshu. No, she used metal and when metal left her hands she turned to her fists. When her fists weren’t enough she used her teeth. He had watched her tear into his allies with her bare teeth. Blood and gore clung to her face while her eyes remained bright and angry.
She was beautiful.
After so many encounters he asks for a name, demands it.
“Ayaka,” she nearly spits.
Daichi is certain that he’s fallen in love.
Her upbringing was not kind. The world was not kind. She learns this at a young age so she fights. She fights to exist in the unkind world. She was brought to this world screaming and she would leave it in nearly the same fashion, she vowed.
She follows Indra Otsusuki because he helped her discover power, a power inside her . She could shape the world around her and for once she was in control. Others do not see it that way so with her new powers she fights. She fights to exist once again.
As she fights she meets a mountain of a man, ugly too with eyes black as soot. She can’t stand his face, but his might in battle impressed her. He’s a brute and as strong as an ox without the use of ninshu. She can’t fathom how he achieved such strength.
One day he asks her for a name and she finds his booming voice annoying but his expression, oddly earnest.
“Ayaka,” she nearly spits, she tries to be respectful. “What is yours?”
“Daichi.”
It’s odd but the exchange evokes a strange feeling within her.
They fight, fight, and fight some more.
They enjoy the encounters.
They look forward to them.
“Yer beautiful,” he says in barely a whisper. He’s weakening.
“You’re an idiot,” she says but there’s hardly any bite to it. She’s tired.
They lay beside each other, both very much a foot in death’s door.
“Shame...we couldn’t have met...before…”
“It is.” She finds herself agreeing.
He turns his head, his expression tender. “I mean it, yer beautiful. M’glad yer the last thing I see, Ayaka.”
She doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry, she settles on inching closer to the behemoth of a man. “I’m glad you’re here too, Daichi.”
“I wish...things had been different.”
“Me too.”
He rests his forehead against hers. “But...m’glad we met…”
“I wish we could meet again.” She felt her eyes flutter, her eyelids were so heavy. “Maybe...maybe we could...in another life.”
“Why not?” She’s not sure if it’s a pained smile or a grimace. “I’d like to have another chance.”
“Okay.” she exhales before making a vow.
They live. They die.
They meet and reunite.
They die again.
Over and over again.
“My name is Rock Lee,” the repellent stranger introduced himself. “You are Sakura, right?”
Sakura blinked. “Huh?”
Rock Lee smiled at her winningly as he held a thumbs up, a slight blush powdering his cheeks. “Please be my girlfriend. I vow to protect you with my life.”
His smile was so bright.
Sakura stared. “Definitely…not.”
Rock Lee’s demeanor deflated. “Why?”
Sakura glared while answering, “because you’re a weirdo.”
The boy’s head drooped. “Aw…”
Sakura feels drained, as she moves along the battlefield with dozens of other medical ninjas. They fanned out, searching for survivors. Familiar faces.
It’s been so long since her mission in the Land of Waves, since fighting in the Forest of Death, and everything else she experienced moving up the ninja ranks. A weariness had settled inside her and it just seemed to grow with every trial and tribulation life presented.
It never lessened.
Sakura was helping everyone she could, but there was also someone she was searching for.
“Go, Sakura! Go! You need to help others!”
She hadn’t wanted to but her aid had turned the tides of battle. They were victors. Survivors.
The casualties she navigated through didn’t make her feel like a winner.
Her eyes burned but no tears sprang. Tired of crying. Tired of existing. Tired-
Sakura’s pace picked up as she hurried to familiar terrain. She had cataloged the rock formation when she had fled hours before, intending on returning to the spot.
“Lee!” She yelled, ignoring the rawness in her throat.
Please don’t be dead.
Please!
Please.
Rock Lee was exhausted, convinced this was it. He was going to die. He had fought valiantly, or at least he thought so. He took down as many foes he could, protecting someone precious and preserved his ninja way.
Seven gates spent him and existing was agony.
He continued to breathe, gulping in precious air despite the pain.
How very like him, stubborn until the end.
Part of him wanted to rise, to check on his friends.
Were my efforts worth it?
Did Sakura make it?
The idea of lifting his limbs in an attempt almost made him weep. There was no way it was happening, so it was better to just…lay here. Die.
Certainly, no one would look down on him for being so tired, right?
He closed his eyes and for a moment, he swore he could hear her voice.
“Sa…kuuu…rah…”
He thinks of her and his lips twitch into a pained smile.
Lee! Lee! Lee!
It was like she was there.
Sakura’s hands glowed, her eyes intense as she worked her medical ninjutsu over Rock Lee.
“Please,” she breathes to herself. “Please.”
His eyes flutter weakly before opening then focusing on her.
Onyx met emerald.
A hush settles over as they meet each other’s gaze.
“I wish...things had been different.”
“Me too.”
“You’re going to be okay,” she tells him once her voice is found, though it is shaky. “You can’t get away from me.”
Lee says nothing but she feels his chakra flare up in a spike.
Things were different.
She was a healer, the best of her generation. In control of the great power inside her.
He was not a mountain of a man but he was still strong. Working hard to earn his place among the elites.
“I am glad you are here, Sakura.”
Sakura smiled. “The feeling is mutual, Lee.”
Yet some things had stayed the same.